Every driver faces numerous risks every time they drive, and even the most cautious and experienced drivers in Colorado experience unexpected accidents. If you drive in the Denver area, good habits like attentive and defensive driving can reduce your risk of causing an accident and facing liability for the resulting damages, but it is also important to know the areas of greatest risk in Denver.
If you experience an accident due to the actions of another driver, a Denver car accident lawyer can help hold them accountable and recover compensation for your losses. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, so it is vital that you connect with reliable legal counsel as soon as possible after a car accident.
While it’s possible for accidents to happen on any road for many different reasons, there are a few roads and intersections in the Denver area that report higher than usual accident rates. If you drive near any of the following areas, use extra caution:
Accidents are most likely to occur at intersections because of distracted driving and moving violations. For example, if a driver is looking at their cell phone instead of the road as they approach an intersection, they could unintentionally run a red light and crash into traffic moving through the intersection. Speeding, illegal turns, and failure to yield the right-of-way are other common examples of how accidents can occur in the busiest intersections of Denver.
When reflecting on the traffic issues you deal with daily in Denver, there are several basic factors to consider. For instance, over the past eight years, the metro population added 350,000 people, putting additional pressure on the highway infrastructure.
Traffic accidents have increased dramatically across the nation, with more than 20,000 traffic fatalities in the first half of 2021. Increased speeding and drunken driving figured into this surge.
These statistics, however, do not diminish the fact that certain Denver intersections are much more likely to be the site of crashes than others and they have been for some time. The most recent accident reports peg the five most wreck-prone spots:
The Federal Highway Commission reports that more than 50% of all collisions and fatalities occur at intersections. Estimates are that more than 95% of intersection accidents are the result of driver error. Among the chief mistakes drivers make are failing to adequately observe, driving while distracted, misjudging the intentions of other motorists and performing illegal actions such as speeding, driving aggressively or running a red light.
Such dangerous driving habits, unfortunately, are not confined to these intersections. In fact, these hotspots are merely the tip of the iceberg during a period when Denver is experiencing an inordinate number of driver-error accidents.
Your first priority after any vehicle accident is your personal health and safety. You should seek medical care immediately after an accident, even if you think you only suffered minor injuries. Seeing a doctor will help address known injuries quickly, and they will know how to identify signs of other injuries that could worsen if left unaddressed.
It’s vital to consult with an attorney you can trust when it comes to your recovery. You may need help gathering the evidence you will need to prove liability for the accident, and your attorney can also help file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. When their insurance can’t fully cover your damages, you will need an attorney’s help to pursue a personal injury claim and recover the rest of your damages.
Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have years of experience representing car accident victims in the Denver area. If you believe another driver is responsible for your recent accident at any intersection in Denver, we can help gather the evidence you need to establish fault and recover compensation for the damages they caused.
A: No, it enforces the fault rule for resolving car accidents and all other vehicle accidents. This means that it is necessary to prove fault for an accident before you can recover compensation for your damages, and all drivers are required to have auto insurance that will cover any damages they cause to others. Proving fault is essential for both an auto insurance claim and a personal injury suit following an accident.
A: You may require various types of evidence to prove liability for your recent car accident, such as vehicle computer data, drivers’ cell phone records, traffic camera video footage, testimony from witnesses and others who saw the accident happen, and even expert witness testimony if the case involves complex details that can’t be easily clarified. Your attorney can help gather the evidence needed to make your case.
A: Colorado is a modified comparative fault state, meaning that all parties sharing liability for an accident will each have a fault percentage assigned to indicate their level of liability. Each party’s fault percentage will dictate the share of the total damages they are responsible for repaying. If a plaintiff bears partial fault in a civil case, their fault percentage is subtracted from their case award as a penalty, and they keep the remainder, but only if they are less than 50% at fault.
A: Your recovery from a car accident will likely require an auto insurance claim as well as a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. You only have a few days in which to file your auto insurance claim, so it is important to start this process as soon as possible. If you intend to file a personal injury claim, the statute of limitations in which you must file is two years, starting on the date of your accident.
A: Hiring legal representation will make every aspect of your recovery efforts easier to manage and more likely to yield positive results. When you have an attorney you can trust to handle your case, you can focus on your recovery while your legal team manages your case proceedings for you. They can resolve disputes with an insurance company and ensure you receive a fair settlement, and you are more likely to win your personal injury case with their assistance.
The attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard have helped many clients in Denver and surrounding communities with their recovery efforts following all types of accidents. We know you have many questions in this difficult situation, and the sooner you connect with legal counsel, the more likely you are to maximize your total recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you recover.
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